Coupling



Jan. 11,1949 E.N.`DouBRAvA 2,458,399

GOUPLING Filed March 7, 1946 y 2 Sheets-Sheet l EQ2/v Patented Jan. 11, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEy 2,458,899 l I i COUPLING K Eugene N. Doubrava, Cleveland, *Ohiofassignor to Thompson Products, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio f Application March 7, 1946, Serial No. 652,608.

3 Claims.

This invention relates to self-sealing couplings of the type disclosed in the George H. Hufferd Patent 2,326,143, dated August 10, 1943, but equipped with a separate conduit tube carried by the half-sections of the coupling valve or plug to connect the ports of the coupling in full uid flow communication.

Specifically, this invention deals with `quick disconnect couplings of the type having coupling boxes connected in fluid flow communication by a split plug valve, wherein an independent conduit tube is provided `to join 'the' ports `of the coupling boxes so that the plug valve pieces can be identical. Y In the disclosure of the Huflerd Patent 2,326,143, the plug or valve for the'coupli'ng is composed of a male part and a female part. The male part has a semi-cylindrical wall projecting from its face to partially defline the' conduit passage which joins the ports of the coupling box. The female plug parthas a semi-cylindrical recess for receiving this projecting wall of the male part. This construction requires separate castings and necessitates two sets of milling cutters, thereby incr-easing the production costs.

According to the present invention, production cost is greatly reduced by making the valve plug in two identical half sections, and by providing a separate conduit tube that will t in any of the identical sections. This conduit or flow tube can be allowed to move in the valve plug relative to both sections thereof so that it will align itself with the sealing surfaces of the port seals carried by the coupling boxes to insure against leakage. Since the ow tube has a uniformly thick cross section, pressure forces in the tube are uniformly distributed and concentrated stress-es at localized portions are eliminated.

The couplings of this invention include a pair of mating ported coupling boxes cooperating to define a valve chamber. A longitudinallyv split plug valve composed of two identical'half sections is rotatably mounted in this chamber. This valve has a transverse hole therethrough receiving the flow tube preferably in slidable relation. The flow tube has end faces adapted to seat on seals carried in the ports of the coupling boxes when the valve is rotated to connect the boxes in fluid flow relation. Each valve piece is retained in a coupling box to seal the port of the box, when the valve is rotatedto disconnect or uncouple the boxes. When the valve is rotated to connect the ports of the boxes, lcooperating tongues and grooves on the valve pieces join the boxes in secured-to-gether or coupled re- 2 lation. The coupling boxes can be made in intertting male and female l form with the male box having side ears projecting into recesses in vthe side walls of the female box. These ears extend over the ends of the ow tube to retain the tube in the 'valve piece that is seated in the male coupling box when the boxes are disconnected. A1ternately,-the coupling boxes can be of identical shape and construction, with flat mating faces. In this alternative arrangement, it is preferable to retain the `flow tube in one of the valve pieces so that it will notdrop out of the valve piece when the boxes are disconnected. In order to maintain the floating of the flow tube in the A valve, in this alternative construction, a slidable retainerkarrangement can be provided.

It is, then, an object of this invention to provide quick disconnect couplings of the type disclosed in the Hufferd Patent 2,326,143 with separate flow tubes, making possible the use of a splitplug or valve composed of identical sections.

Another object of this invention is to provide a `floating flow tube plings. t u N A still further objeci-l of the invention is .to decrease the costofl quick disconnect couplings of the type having coupling boxes joined in fluid flow communication by a split plugvalv-e, and sealed in, uncoupled relation by the valve pieces.

. A still further object of the invention. is .to eliminate heretofore necessary separate castings and machining operations for the sections of the coupling valve in a quickdisconnect coupling. A specific object 4of the invention is to provide a separate flow tube in identical half sections of a couplingvalve to'sealnglyl `engage the port seals of coupling boxes in which the valve is mounted for placing the ports in full uid flow communication without` subjecting the valve to fluid pressure.

Other and further objects of ther invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of thev annexed sheets of drawings which, by way of preferred examples only-illustrate two embodiments of the invention. 'Y v v I On the drawings: l u

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a coupling accordingv to this invention illustrating'the parts in coupled-together relation.

Figure "2 vis a` horizontal cross-sectional View taken along the vline II-V-II of Figure 1. .1 Figure 3 is `a view similar to .,Figure2b11t illustrating the coupling in disconnected position.

for quick `disconnect coul Figure 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view.v

taken along the line VIII-VIIII of Figure 7 but illustrating the valve plug rotated 90 `from the coupled position shown in Figure 'l'to the un-A coupled position, and illustrating only fragmentary parts of the casings YL f As shown on the drawings:

In Fgures 1 to 4, the reference numeralr IB designates generally one form of coupling according to this invention.` 'The coupling'i is composed of a male coupling box I Ianda female coupling box I2 having mating end faces. The coupling boxes, when their` end faces are mated together, cooperate to define an Vopen-topped closed-bottomed cylindricallf` fcup on, chamber. This chamber receives a. cylindrical plug-valve i3 composed of tWo identical half-sections i3d and 3b.

The male coupling box 'Il has opposed fragmentary circular ears I lo, lllapon the sidewalls thereof extending forwardly from the flat face of the box and having a cylindrical; contour so .that their-ends extend inwardlytoward each other to envelop and retain `a member seated on thein'side faces thereof. 1 y

Thefemale coupling box ,I2 has fragmentary opposed circular ref :easesY I 2u,I"2a in the side walls thereof for receiving the` ear-s ,l Icz,-y Hc;y when the boxes are mated together. The male coupling box III 4has ,alaterallyV exf tending port IIb joining` the cylindrical .chamber y portion thereof with a conduit nipple portion I I c.

The female coupling box has a similar port'IZb' joining the cylindrical chamber portion-thereof With a. conduit nipple I2C. The ports I ib and'iZb are formed in neck portions extending outwardly from the main'fragmental cylindrical body portions of the coupling boxes on' the sidewalls lof these'boxes remote from their ilat mating faces, as shown, and these neck portions carry flanges F, F adapting the coupling boxes for attachment to mountings or other supports.

Spring pressed seals I4 are provided in the ports II b and I2b and have arcuate inner faces Ma to engage and fit 'on the cylindrical periphery of the valve I3A in' the chamber provided bythe coupling boxes;y f

Thevalve piece #3o has` a semi-cylindrical'hole 13o extending transversely therethrough Vvvi'th its major diameter at the fiat mating face of the valve piece. AThe valve piece .I3bhas asimilar semi-cylindrical hol-e 'I 3c therethrough registering with the hole in the` other valve piece-to provide 'a cylindrical bore through` the valve pieces.

In accordance with thisinvention, a ow tube I5 is mounted in the bore provided by the semiv` bore sections I3c, ISC of the valve pieces I 3a and |319. This tube has cylindrically-shaped end faces I5a, [5a terminating flush with thecylindrical side Walls of the valve pieces and adapted to seat on the facesMa of theport seals IA.. The flow tube I5y provides `a. conduit. passagelt for connecting the ports i'IZz and, I 2bin full fluid iioW communication whenever the valve I3 is rotated to move both of its sections I3a and I3b into both of the, coupling boxes I2 and I3 as shown in Figure 2. In this position, the end faces I5a of the flow tube I5 will engage the end faces Illa of the port seals I4 and these port seals will act in opposite directions on the ends of the flow tube which, in effect, floats in the valve pieces. The flow tube is thus sealinglyclamped between the port seals,

land leakage out of the flow passage I8 is pre* vented.

When the valve I3 is rotated so that each section I3a and I 3b thereof is wholly Within one coupling box II or I2, the flow tube I5 will be retained by the cylindrically curved ears I Ia, I Ia lof the male coupling box I I and the boxes can be separated as shown in Figure 3 Without the flow tube I5 dropping out of position. In this position of the valve sections in the coupling boxes, their solid cylindrical side walls close the ports I Ib and I2b and the seals I4 engage these side Walls to prevent leakage out of the ports. The coupling is thus.' disconnected but each part thereof has its ports sealed. Y

While Figure 3V shows vthe tube I5 retained in the valve section I 3a, it should be understood that the tube I5 can be retained as well in the valve section I3b by rotating this section into the couplingbox II and by rotating thesection I3a vinto the coupling box l2. The tube I5, however, is always retained bythe male coupling box II irrespective of which valve section is seated in this box in the disconnect position of the coupling.

The identical sections I3a and Itb of the valve I3 are cheaply formed from castings or forgings by milling flat mating faces thereon with a standard milling cutter. A pair of such milled valvesectionsare then clamped together with their milled at faces in engagement,v and a transverse hole is drilled therethrough Withl80 of thecircumference of the hole in each section. The Adiameter desired for the cylindrical plug valve is then formed by lathe-turning the clamped-together valve sections. The flow tube can bean inexpensive metal pipe inserted in the bored-in hole of the clamped-together pieces and having its ends turned at the same time the cylindrical diameter of the pieces is formed. Thus, the present invention greatly simplifies and cheapens production of rvalve for quick disconnect couplings, l

` As best shown in Figure i of the drawings, the valve I3 is effective for joining the coupling boxes together without the aid of any additional clamps or connecting means. As therein shown, each coupling box such as the box Il has a semicylindrical tongue II surrounding vthe open top oflthe chamber-defining portion thereof. This tongue Il seats in grooves I8 provided in the valve section I3a and i311. When the coupling boxesare matedk together, the tongues ll thereon form aycomplete circle,v and when the valve sections are'mated together, the grooves I5 therein form va complete circle receiving the tongues. Similar interiitting tongues .and grooves I9 and 2.0 are. provided in the bottom portions of the coupling boxes and valve pieces. In addition, to prevent the Valve piecesv from being lifted out o f the cylindrical chambers of the coupling boxes, the valve. sections have peripheral grooves: il in their side walls receiving tongues or ribs 22 on the coupling boxes.v When a portion of each valve section 13o 'and I 3b is positioned in each coupling box I I and I2L the boxes are held together by the cooperating tongues and grooves. When each valve piece is rotated so that it is completely within one coupling box, the tongues and grooves will hold this valve piece in the coupling box,but,

since the valve pieces are separable, the coupling tion |3a and |3b thereof has a lug L provided on.

the top wall thereof. These lugs mate together when the valve pieces are placed in matlngposi-l ti-on to provide a wrench-receiving head that is easily engaged by a turning tool to rotate the valve.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 5 to 8, a quick disconnect coupling` 30 has two identical coupling boxes 3|, 3|fwith`at mating faces and a valve plug 32 composed of two substantially identical sections 32a and 32h also:

having flat mating faces. Each -coupling box 3| has a fragmental cylindrical side wall 3|a with open end faces, so that, when the boxes are mated together, Aan open-ended cylindrical valve operating chamber is provided. An integral neck 3|b projects laterally from each coupling box to a nipple 3io. Flanges F are provided on the necks 3|b for attaching the boxes to mountings or the like.

A port 33, opening into the cylindrical chamber afforded by the side walls of the coupling boxes, is provided in each neck 3|b. :Each port 33 receives a spring-pressed seal 34.

The valve sections 32a and 32h, as shown in Figure 8, each have flat mating faces 32e and transverse semi-cylindrical holes 32d extending inwardly from these flat faces. Each hole 32d has its major diameter at the fiat face 32C so that 180 of the circumference of the hole is contained in each valve piece.

The valve pieces have end flanges overlying the ends of the cylindrical walls 3|a of the coupling boxes, and these anges have semi-cylindrical grooves 32e therearound. The grooves open toward each other and -receive tongues 3|d on the ends of the cylindrical portions of the coupling boxes 3|. When the boxes are mated together, the tongues 3|d form cylindrical rims `projecting beyond the cylindrical valve-operating chamber and these rims project into the grooves on the opposite ends of the valve pieces 32a Iand 32h.

The valve piece 32a, in accordance with this invention, has an undercut groove 32j extending transversely therethrough at 'the bottom of the hole section 32d. This groove 321 has a dovetailed cross section, as shown in Figure 8.

A flow tube 35 is seated in the hole 32d of the valve section 32a and held therein by means of a headed screw 36 having its shank threaded in the tube 35 vand having its head riding in the groove 32j. The ow tube 35 has one-half `of its circumference seated in the hole 32d of the valve piece 32a and the other half of its circumference projects from the fiat face 32e of this valve piece to Iit in the hole 32d of the valve, piece 32h.

The flow tube 35, if desired, can float in the valve piece 32a by allowing the screw head to ride in the groove 32j or, if desired, the screw can be 6 tightened to `lockthe flow` tube `infixed relation tolthe'valve piece 32m AAlternately, 0f course, thevalve piece `132i) could .be provided Witha groovesuchas the groove 32j, and the iiow tube 35 could be'retained by this valve piece 32h. As shown .inf Figure 7, theflow tube 35 has cylindrical; end faces 35a engaging the seals 3i when the valve-is inlcoupled position and, in the event the screw T36 allows Vfloating movement of the flow tube 35, these seals` 34. will act on .0ppm site end's 'of the floating member and Willvhave equalwpressure relationship with this member. Theyflow tube v35; provides ya. conduit passage 3l' connecting the` ports 33:11u iiuid flou/relation.

Eachvalve piecef32agand32b is retainedby a coupling box3|z;to -seal the ports thereof when the plug, valve vis-rot-atecl to bringits ycylindrical outer wall in covering rel-ation to thev port seals. When eachvalve piece, is completely disposed within acoupling box, 'as shown in Figure A6, the boxes can be separated and the flow tube will be retained by the valve piece32a in-.whichever coupling box. this piece is retained. The projecting -portion of the flowA tube 35, as shown in Figure 6, rserves toguide the-boxes into mated relation sincerit williitbetween the side walls of the `opposing box vand easily slide intoV the hole 32d-of theother valve piece. Of course, as inthe embodiment shown `in Figures 1 to 4, when the plugv valve is rotated so that a portionof each section 32a and 321; thereof fits into both coupling boxes the cooperating tongues and grooves of the valve pieces and boxes will hold the boxes in coupled-together relation.

The valve pieces 32a and 32h can be inexpensively formed from identical castings or forgings by milling the flat faces 32e thereon, by clamping these faces together, by boring the hole 32d through the clamped-together pieces, by inserting the flow tube 35,`and by turning the outer diameter of the clamped-together pieces to the desired size.

From the above descriptions, it will be understood that this invention provides a quickfdisconnect coupling having coupling valves equipped with separate flow tubes so that the valve sections can be of identical construction thereby eliminating heretofore-encountered additional machining and casting expenses. It will also be understood that the flow-tubes provided by this invention produce structures which can withstand higher pressures since the stresses are uniformly distributed around the entire cross section of the flow tube.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a Wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon other wise than necessitated by the scopey of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A self-sealing quick disconnect coupling comprising a pair of ported coupling boxes having mating end faces and defining when said end faces are `mated together a valve-operating chamber, a two-piece valve plugk rotatable in said chamber, cooperating means on the coupling boxes and valve pieces for coupling the boxes to gether when both the valve pieces are rotated into both boxes and for retaining a valve piece in each box when each piece is rotated into one box only to uncouple the boxes in sealed relation, said `valve pieces having mating faces' with opposed recesses therein defining when said facesv are mated together a transverse hole through the valve, a flow tube movably seated in said hole and dening a conduit passage for connecting the ports, and means forretaining theflow tube in one of the valve pieces when the coupling boxes arev disconnected, said .last mentioned means comprising a dovetailed slot and a cooperating dovetailed projection, said slot extending axiallywitli respect to said tube to permit axial movements of said tube.

2. In a quick disconnect coupling of the typ having a split valve for connecting 'coupling boxes in fluid flow communication and 'for sealing the coupling boxes in uncoupled relation togetlier with a spring-pressed port seal inA each coupling box, the improvement of van axially movable flow tube in the split valve acted on by the opposed port seals when the valve is' rotated to place the boxes in fluid flow communication and defining a conduit passage connecting the ports of the boxes. f

3. A quick disconnect coupling comprising a pair of identical coupling boxes having ilat mating end faces and dening when mated together a cylindrical valve-operating chamber with diametrically opposed ports, a plug Valve composed of substantially identical half sections rotatably mounted in said operating chamber, said sections of the valve plug and said coupling boxes having intertting cooperating tongues and grooves to' retain the valve plug in the coupling boxes and to join 'the boxes in coupled-together relation through the valve pieces when the valver pieces are rotated to be partly positioned in both boxes, said valve pieces having a transverse hole therethrough with half of its peripherT in each valve piece, a flow tubel in the hole of one of the valve piecesl and projectingfrom the valve piece to ne seated in the hole of the .other valve piece, said projecting portion of the flow tube functioning to align the boxes for the coupling operation, and said flow tube having opposed ends for alignment with said ports in the coupling boxes to join the ports in iiuid flow communication, and fastening means for retaining said tube in said one valve piece, said `fastening means permitting axial sliding movement of the tube relative to said one valvepiecd and spring pressed seals in said ports respectively engaging the ends of said tube in the coupled position of said coupling boxes.

v EUGENE N. DOUBRAVA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe le oi this patentz.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 

